CoStar Group reviews

2.7

34% would recommend to a friend

(3,017 total reviews)
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Andrew C. Florance

32% approve of CEO

38% positive business outlook

CoStar Group has an employee rating of 2.7 out of 5 stars, based on 3,017 company reviews on Glassdoor which indicates that most employees have an average working experience there. The CoStar Group employee rating is 22% below average for employers within the Real Estate industry (3.5 stars).

Reviews by job title

3K reviews
1.0
Oct 17, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

I didn't have to work many weekends or late nights. Free fruit and healthy snacks. Good gym and showers. Stable company with monopoly business model, so you don't have to worry about the company going under.

Cons

The place is run like a frat house. If the CEO (Andy Florance) doesn't like you enough to put you in his "inner circle" then your days are numbered. I saw a lot of capable, experienced people fired with no notice and no cause simply because the winds shifted or something minor happened. Or their boss needed a scapegoat to slaughter to appease tyrant Andy. People management is mercurial and unprofessional. Very little diversity at the top, especially when it comes to opinions. There's only one brain allowed at CoStar, so even small projects stand still until Andy gives the go-ahead (long time survivors know not to make a single, small move without his express approval, and even then you risk a bad mood nearly cutting your head off). Don't expect any professional development here. None of the senior leaders are very well developed themselves, especially since they've spent their careers in the dysfunctional orbit of CoStar. Experience outside of commercial real estate is dismissed and unvalued. The industry is "traditional" and incestuous - not a great place for people of color or women. Turnover is huge and margins are low. Worker discontent is epic. They use free stuff and perks to make themselves feel like they're good employers. Much of the work feels silly, outdated, or circular, and there's an immense amount of waiting to hurry up and hurrying up to wait. Andy speaks and everyone jumps, until they're not in the spotlight, at which time they dawdle and wait for guidance from the king. It's no accident that CoStar was rated the worst employer and the worst CEO in DC - it's true. After working here, don't be surprised if you end up with a case of post-traumatic stress disorder. The "reality" at CoStar is upside down vs. the reality of other [well-run, professionally managed] companies, and working here too long will make you doubt yourself or learn terrible habits that wouldn't fly at other companies.

1.0
Oct 13, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

There's a lot of camaraderie amongst workers. I'm genuinely struggling for anything else after that.

Cons

First of all, you need to make no mistake about the fact that this is a call centre job. You will sit with your headset on for the vast majority of time, trying to get in touch with agents - who are doing everything they can to avoid your calls. When you do catch them, you are instructed to essentially be brass and get as much information as possible. The agents are rarely forthcoming ,and it can be a painful experience - not least of all, because you KNOW someone is listening in on your calls, and disciplinary measures will be instigated as soon as you don't hit targets. There's also a huge element of salesmanship to working here. Managers. There are a lot of them, and the vast majority have been promoted from research positions. This means they have no experience - and usually that is painfully telling. They go very quickly from being one of your comrades, to 'yes men' out to make a name for themselves. Managers almost never seem to be promoted on merit - I have worked in numerous jobs before, and I know that this happens everywhere, but the influence of the CoStar clique is unparalleled in my experience. I have witnessed people fabricate numbers to boost their bonus, get busted by a manager - and then promptly get promoted. Which brings me to discipline. Again, your status in the clique will HUGELY impact on your likelihood of disciplinary measures being taken against you - but if you're not kissing the right backside, be prepared to be hauled off to a meeting the second you don't hit your targets. Staff turnover is PHENOMENAL, and this is in no small part down to the number of times managers have been keen to make an impression, and have fired people. Honestly, I've seen it happen four times in the short time I've worked here - people have a short meeting with a manager, come out, walk to their desk in tears, pick up their coat, and are lead out. There is a MASSIVE culture of fear in the office - it's why there is such a strong sense of camaraderie. This fear culture drives people to get sloppy and cut corners in order to meet targets. A lot of the time, when you're faced with agents who have an increasing resentment towards you, and you know your manager is on your back as it is, it's an appealing idea. I came to CoStar with a genuine enthusiasm for doing the job as well as I possibly could, with a view to moving up the ladder and really making a career for myself. Within as short a time as three weeks, I realised I had made a mistake. Fast forward to six months, and all enthusiasm has been extinguished. The excessive and unrealistic pressures place on research associates alone is enough to make me hate getting out of bed on weekdays. However, couple that with the appalling management within the place, and the perpetual fear that you could be shown the door for almost no reason - it's been a nightmare. I have spoken to many colleagues before posting here, and with almost no exceptions we all feel the same.

1.0
Oct 5, 2013
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Basic salary and coworkers are the only decent pros.

Cons

Ineffective management from Directors to Team Managers Culture of fear Unfair allocation of work between researchers Targets changed to decrease bonus payments Ageism when promoting The list coud go on but those are the big ones and I am not exaggerating!

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